Professional Writer Resume Example

Many professional writers will find that a functional (or combination) resume format is the best choice to show off their qualifications and experience. Why? Because these formats highlight skills over chronological work history. And, when it comes to a creative job like being a professional writer, what you can do is more important than when you did it.

This format is especially helpful if you have limited work experience in the industry or have gaps in your resume. A resume that highlights core competencies will focus hiring managers’ limited attention on the things that matter (what you can do for the employer), and draw it away from the things that don’t (a career path with a few twists and turns).

This is especially important because studies have shown that recruiters and hiring managers spend as little as six seconds reviewing resumes before moving them to the “yes” or “no” pile. Putting your qualifications right up front increases the chances that you’ll catch their eye and make the cut. It also requires you to immediately showcase the keywords related to your skills and qualifications, which could help your resume make it through the applicant tracking system to a real person’s desk.

The resume represented here is crafted for a professional writer. This job seeker has a wide variety of experience, much of it outside of her current industry. For those job experiences, she focuses on the skills she has developed that relate to the industry she is now interested in.

This resume also includes a resume summary and core competencies list to more clearly explain why, despite limited experience in the industry, the job seeker is an ideal candidate.

More Tips for Writers

There’s never been a more exciting time to be a professional writer. The explosion of online communications means that there’s an endless demand for well-written, engaging content – so jobs are out there, if you know where to look and how to apply. To aid in your preparation, have a look at these additional writing and publishing resume examples.